WEBVTT KEN ANDMATT.DAVID: LET'S TALK ABOUT THISWASHINGTON POST REPORT SAYINGTHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP ISENCOURAGING PAUL LEPAGE TO RUNFOR SENATE NEXT YEAR.THE GOVERNOR WAS ON YOUR SHOWAND SAID -- HE WAS TALKINGABOUT STEVE BANNON POSITIONINGAN LEPAGE TO RUN.ONE OF THE FAVORITE THINGS FROMTHIS INTERVIEW IS I WILL BE ASINGLE MAN IF I RUN FOR SENATE.DO YOU THINK THIS REPORTING FROMTHE POST ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMPPUSHING THE GOVERNMENT TO RUNWILL SWA HIM?>> I THINK HE WOULD'VE ASSUMEDTRUMP WOULD ENDORSE HIM.I DON'T THINK ALL OF A SUDDEN HEWILL SAY THE PRESIDENT WILLENDORSE ME MAYBE I SHOULD RUN.I KIND OF FEEL SORRY FOR HIM.>> THIS IS NOT FAIR TO HIM.THE QUESTION COMES DOWN TO WHERETHIS CAME FROM.IS THIS PRESIDENT TRUMP TRYINGTO PUSH HIM IN THE RACE AND HE'SBEEN GETTING NO FROM THEGOVERNOR FOR WHILE?THIS THE RNC TRYING TO GETTHIS TO HAPPEN?WHO IS MAKING THIS HAPPENBECAUSE WHY WOULD HE BRING IT UPRANDOMLY?>> I THINK THE GOVERNOR IS CLEAR.I DON'T THINK HE THINKS TH LIFEIN WASHINGTON IS FOR HIM.I DON'T SEE HIM.BEING ONE OF 100, I DON'T SEETHAT.>> THERE ARE CERTAINLY THINGSTHAT WOULD BE INTERESTING TOWATCH.>> LIKE ROY MOORENOT THE SAME EQUIVALENT, BEINGUNIQUE.>> THE PRESIDENT OBVIOUSLY WANTSHIM.WE NEED SOME CERTAINTY ON THATRACE.

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“White House officials have been in touch with LePage’s political team in recent weeks, according to two people with knowledge of the talks who spoke on the condition of anonymity to talk candidly,” the Post reported. ”LePage’s name came up again Tuesday at a White House meeting on Senate candidates, the officials said, as Trump and his team went through a list of states and races — including Arizona, Missouri and Maine — looking at individual candidates and poll numbers.”

LePage, who is in his second term as governor, cannot seek a third term due to term limits. He had said previously that he has no interest in running.

Last month, Maine first lady Ann LePage said former Trump chief strategist Stephen Bannon had lobbied her to run for King’s Senate seat.

LePage said his wife had no interest in running.

State Sen. Eric Brakey, R-Androscoggin, who is running against King, released a statement about the Post’s report.

"Our campaign continues working hard and we are quickly gaining momentum,” he wrote. “Governor LePage has said on several occasions that he has no plans to run for U.S. Senate and I take him at his word. Together, the Governor and I have already endorsed a candidate to replace me in the Maine Senate. I am not distracted by Washington gossip. Instead, I'm spreading my ‘Liberty for the Little Guy’ message as I continue meeting with Maine people.”